Will the Denver Nuggets be able to keep Paul Millsap from signing with the Miami Heat?
Per Heavy.com’s Brandon “Scoop B.” Robinson, the Miami Heat have interest in signing Denver Nuggets forward Paul Millsap when he becomes a free agent this summer. Although the salary cap for the 2020-21 season hasn’t been set, the Heat should be able to free up nearly $37 million in cap space this summer if the salary cap remains the same ($115 million).
https://twitter.com/ScoopB/status/1271171707164860420
Greg Sylvander of Miami Heat Beat adds that the Heat would only offer Millsap a mid-level type of contract unless impending free agents like point guard Goran Dragic were offered lucrative multi-year deals. In the latter scenario, Miami would offer Millsap a large one-year contract.
Was told it is interest only as mid level type addition to join a contender type of scenario
— Greg Sylvander (@GregSylvander) June 13, 2020
OR..
if other teams scoop up Goran (&/or others) on lucrative multi year contracts.....they would try for a balloon 1 year offer to a player like Millsap (rolling over space to 2021) https://t.co/j3dRpeg2fO
The market for Dragic isn’t often discussed but he’s an accomplished scorer, player and shooter whose veteran steadiness could be used by a team like the Phoenix Suns, Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks. However, at 34-years-old, it’s fair to question just how much a team would be willing to pay him.
Still, if signed by Miami, Millsap would certainly be able to provide nice depth at power forward. His three-level scoring, defensive instincts, quick hands and low-post defense would make him a two-way presence he is for the Nuggets. His veteran experience is another important factor in the mark he can make for the Heat.
Would the Nuggets allow this though?
In addition, although it’s unlikely the Nuggets would want to pay Millsap anything near the three-year, $90 million contract he initially signed with Denver, it’s likely that the Nuggets would pay him a little more than the MLE (which was $9.3 million last season). He’s been essential to the team’s success on both ends and although he hasn’t quite lived up to his contract, Denver would clearly likely to bring him back.
Although Michael Porter Jr. is the team’s future at power forward, his injury history shows that the team needs to have a high-end rotation player behind him. Porter could conceivably keep coming off the bench behind Millsap but there’s the possibility that the Nuggets decide to start Porter as well.
A bench role would diminish Millsap’s value in Denver a bit but they should still be willing to pay him as much as, if not more than, Miami.
Ultimately, the decision will come down to how much Millsap wants to return and if he believes he has a better chance to win a championship. After 14 seasons, Millsap still hasn’t won a championship, and that could be just the ending to his career he wants.